Movement technology specialist Movetech UK has underlined its commitment to advancing skilled engineers by recruiting another apprentice and putting its management team through leadership and management training.

New recruit Michael Smith, 22, had no formal engineering training before joining the Bolton company, though is a hands-on mechanic who has been engineering for years. He takes the total number of apprentices employed by Movetech UK to two.

At the same time, the company's senior management team has been undertaking leadership and management training through the government-backed Growth Accelerator programme, which aims to help high growth businesses reach their potential

"This is an exciting period for the company and we are going to need a fully-equipped team to fulfil our growth plans," said operations manager Russell Entwistle, who is currently part of an additional director development programme provided by Arrimar Ltd.

He added: "The advanced engineering apprenticeship is an ideal platform to train our turntable technicians because it give a formal structure and qualification whilst teaching the specifics of our unique equipment. Most projects we work on are bespoke, and we want to make sure our decades of expertise are passed down the generations.

"Getting an engineer in and expecting them to be able to understand how we work, and what service levels we expect, isn't easy. This way, our apprentices can get a broad knowledge of all aspects of engineering and a specific knowledge of our industry."

Movetech UK's other apprentice, Adam Gastall, joined in September 2010 and is working towards NVQ level 3 advanced engineering with Manchester's Skills Solutions.

Movetech UK has been providing movement solutions for more than half a century. The company produces equipment for a wide range of sectors such as major retailers, events and exhibition organisers, supermarket chains, leading industrial organisations, automotive manufacturers and distributors, TV and film companies, government agencies and test laboratories.

Increasing demand for MGS Medical Plastics products has resulted in the company launching a new 2,500 sq ft clean room at a cost of more than £150,000.

The company recently expanded into new premises in Blackburn, Lancashire, in a bid to both work more efficiently and plan for future expansion.

The latest stage of that development is now complete, and MGS recently launched its new clean room which will allow it to increase production on its disposable medical and needle devices.

MGS Medical Plastics is an offshoot of MG Stuma, which has recently rebranded as MGS Technical Plastics, one of the UK's quickest growing plastic injection moulding specialists. The company is currently undergoing a £2m expansion plan as it bids to keep up with rapidly growing demands for its specialist products.

The clean room is the latest part of the growth plan. It conforms to ISO13485, which the company is the process of gaining certification for, and is home to 5 injection moulding machines arranging from 35 tonne to 110 tonne lock, shot weight from 25g to 300g.

Director John Sturgess said: "This is a very exciting time for MGS. We are evolving rapidly and investing heavily in new premises and new machinery

"We are growing from strength to strength all the time and our clean room, which is another significant investment, is yet another string to our bow. It confirms our position as one of the strongest in the market."

MGS produces a wide range of medical items, including hyperdermic needle handling and control, blood test systems, dental care, disposable medical devices, filtration and sterilisation equipment.


 About MGS Medical Plastics and MGS Technical Plastics

MGS Medical Plastics and MGS Technical Plastics are the new names of MG Stuma, better reflecting the company's major product areas - plastic injection mouldings for medical and hygiene markets; and security, leisure, safety, lighting and electronics.

With hundreds of different injection moulded plastic products, it's hard to highlight ‘typical' products, but the company manufactures: roller towel housings, which it assembles for its clients, microwave steamers, hard plastic helmets for the building industry and white water rafting protective head gear, high-tech plastic components for military communication equipment and mass produced small plastic caps and filters.

Established in 1974, the family owned company has around 100 employees and a turnover of £6.5 million.

Issued on behalf of: MGS Technical Plastics and MGS Medical Plastics